A 1930s Winery Converted into a Modern-Rustic Home

The transformation of a modest, family-owned winery into a home that preserves and celebrates the character of the old building.

Nestled in the small village of Casas de Eufemia, near Requena, Spain, Casu is a 1930s former winery that has been carefully renovated and transformed into a modern-rustic home. Belen Ilarri Studio, an architecture firm that specializes in the rehabilitation of old houses, followed the concept of ‘integration of contrast’ to give a new life to the old winery. The firm’s considered design approach prioritized the preservation of the building’s rich character while also focusing on transforming the interiors into cozy living spaces.

While the studio minimized interventions to respect the essence of the original architecture, the team also implemented some much-needed changes. Among the most pivotal ones is a new patio that completely transforms the outdoor living space. At the same time, the patio brings more natural light inside the home and improves ventilation. Asymmetric walls frame the landscape while providing privacy. A curved wall and circular elements mirror another intervention: a sculptural spiral staircase that now connects the main living floor and the former wine cellar.

The studio left the textures of the original walls untouched, along with the old concrete floors in the cellar. The wine storage vats also remain, now a part of a modern-rustic home. In the main living spaces, new wood flooring brings warmth to the décor and complements the raw surfaces of the old building. The modern kitchen features wood cabinets with corrugated details and sleek white countertops.

Thoughtfully restored with a strong desire to create a poetic link between contrasting elements, this family winery honors its past while taking on a new role as a comfortable home. Anchored in its context, the project keeps rustic and contemporary architecture in perfect balance. Photography© David Zarzoso.